U.S. Marks Martin Luther King Day

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Monday, January 21, 2002

U.S. Marks Martin Luther King Day

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U.S. President Bush announced plans Saturday to devote an extra $2 billion to federal programs for special education students and the nation's poorest schools. Such a commitment, he said, is in keeping with the philosophies of Martin Luther King Jr.

Bush used his weekly radio address to link the federal King holiday to his efforts to improve education, saying the "institutionalized bigotry" that King fought has been vanquished, and it is now time to take on less tangible struggles, such as ensuring equal education.

Bush said he planned to hold a ceremony at the White House on Monday to commemorate the federal King holiday. Among those scheduled to attend are King's widow, Coretta Scott King, and one of her two daughters, the White House said.

First lady Laura Bush will go to Atlanta, King's hometown, Bush said. She is scheduled to speak at a service at King's church, Ebenezer Baptist.

Bush was to sign a holiday proclamation that praised King as "a modern American hero whose leadership rallied people of all races to rise up against injustice," and said the holiday in honor of his birthday takes on greater importance because of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

"Dr. King's unwavering commitment to nonviolent means of bringing the people of our nation together provided a foundation for healing and trust. That trust brought us through our recent tragedy as we reached out to each other without regard to race or religion."

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